So we hinted at it in the last post and I’m sure that you guessed that we were busy doing photography for an Indian wedding, and wow what a wedding it was!  We were lucky enough to be Nora and Jas’ wedding photographers for three days.  What an emotional and beautiful series of events it was.  Family and friends travelled from all over the world to celebrate the marriage of Nora and Jas.  We were able to take many pictures and we will keep updating this post over the next couple of days as we add more photographs.

Thursday April 3, 2008 – Sangeet at The Sultan Banquet Hall 

The first day that we were with the couple was at their sangeet on Thursday.  It took place at the opulent Sultan Banquet Hall in South Edmonton.  The ladies all went up to the stage to sing traditional Indian songs to the couple.  A dhoki (two-sided drum) was played during the singing.  We will start off with a picture of two ladies singing with Nora’s grandmother looking on.  The stage behind them was packed full of ladies.

Afterwards we were treated to fantastic dancing by two of Nora’s cousins.

Afterwards the jaggo ceremony started.  This ceremony involves passing the jaggo covered with candles on top and with a mirrored bottom.  On the right you can see a gentleman dancing with a stick.  The music played very loudly as everyone danced with such energy!  The jaggo is the procession to call the neighbours to the wedding and I can say that if there were any neighbours to the Sultan’s Banquet Hall they would have come over to see what all of the excitement was about.

Here is Nora holding the Jaggo.  Her father is standing next to her.

Jas and the guys were having a great time at the sangeet.

Friday Morning April 4th, 2008

Today was the Chunni Chadana when the groom’s family goes to the bride’s home to symbolize their new life with their in laws. Here you can see Nora having the scarf placed on her head.  The scarf was put on and taken off multiple times during the ceremony as she was adorned with various pieces of jewelry.

Jas’ lap was filled with various gifts and offerings.  The couple was fed many different sweets and handed gifts.

Nora’s grandmother looks on with joy.

Jas pinched a bit of sindoor and placed it on Nora’s head at the part of her hair.  The bright red sindoor is the mark of a married woman.

Friday Evening April 4th, 2008

Friday evening was the mendhi party at Nora’s family’s house.  Everyone got involved in the activities.

All of the ladies got their mendhi done.

Even the kids were having fun!

Nora’s mendhi was incredibly intricate.  It took me a long time before I could find Jas’ name on her hand.  Nora told me that the groom’s name is inscribed in mendhi on the lady so that the groom can find it.  It is a way for the couple to break the ice at the wedding ceremony.

Saturday Morning April 6th, 2008

The day of the wedding is an early day for both the bride and groom.  It takes a long time to prepare for the wedding.  Nora got ready at her parents’ house.

Since Jas was in from New York City he was getting ready at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre.  The room was packed with family members wishing him well.

Once we got outside the streets and cars were completely covered in snow.  It was a total whiteout and we could only see a few feet in front of us while driving.  The gurdwara (temple) where the ceremony was to be held was all of the way across the city.  Fortunately everyone made it there safely.

Jas looked powerful as he arrived at the gurdwara.

The milni (introductions) took place in the lower level of the gurdwara.  Here Nora’s father is putting a ring on Jas’ father’s hand.

Jas was upstairs first, waiting for his bride.

Nora and Jas look wonderful next to one another.

Next to the altar the band played the harmonium (accordion) and tablas (drums) and sang songs.

The couple walked around the Guru Granth Sahib (sacred script) four times with Nora behind Jas.

We then went to Edmonton City Hall for some photographs.

This is my absolute favourite picture of Nora.  She looks just amazing here.

We returned to Nora’s family’s house for the juta chhupai where Jas negotiated with the young ladies for his entrance to the house.  They haggled him into paying a tidy sum to cut the ribbon to gain entrance to the house so that he could take his bride.  It was a funny sight to watch and a lot of fun.

Next is one of the most emotional ceremonies of the wedding, the doli, where Nora departed from her parent’s house to start her new life in New York City with Jas.  Everyone is going to miss Nora.  Throwing the phulian (puffed rice) over her head symbolizes change and conveys good wishes to her parents.

Saturday Evening April 6th, 2008 at the Best Western Sherwood Hotel & Conference Centre

Saturday evening’s reception was held at Prem Singhmar’s fabulous Best Western in Sherwood Park.  The ballroom was beautifully decorated.  Here Nora and Jas are standing in front of their unique fabric corridor at the entrance to the party.

This guy sure looks happy to be receiving some well-earned cash for his fantastic dancing.

It took some effort to cut the cake.  Here Nora is slicing through the entire cake from top to bottom with a huge knife.

Nora and Jas looked positively elegant at their wedding reception.  We hope that you had a great time in Thailand!  Nora, your family and friends will miss you as you start your new life with Jas in New York City.  You are a wonderful couple and we send all of our best wishes to you both in New York.